Charging valve construction



Feb. 1, 1966 CHARGING VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11, 1964 FIG-4 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. WILSON BY 6% :1 )ZM HIS ATTORNEYS J. B. WILSON 3,232,485

United States Patent 3,232,485 CHARGING VAINE CONSTRUCTION John B. Wilson, Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,097 16 Claims. (Cl. 222-52) This invention relates to a charging valve construction.

One of the features of this invention includes a passageway to be connected with the interior of a receptacle to be charged with a pressure fluid, such as liquid C0 The passageway is constructed so that a straight pressure fluid charging needle may be inserted into the charging valve construction and fluid under pressure is discharged by the needle in a manner to cause a check valve in the passageway to open and permit the fluid to be charged into the receptacle. The passageway is sealed by the check valve upon the cutting otf of the pressure fluid in the needle prior to the withdrawal of the charging needle. The construction is such that a pressureless charging needle or any straight instrument of a similar naturecannot be inserted into the construction in a manner to open the check valve and allow a dangerous discharge of high pressure fluid, such as liquid CO from the check valve construction toward the operator.

Another feature of this invention includes the use of a check valve stem protecting disc or slugwhich permits the flow of high pressure fluid from the charging needle to and through the check valve into the receptacle, but prevents the actuation of the stern of the check valve by a pressureless charging needle,.or any similar straight instrument.

Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and/ or the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in cross section, and partly in elevation, of a liquid or beverage container with a charging or propelling gas receptacle in the container which may be provided with a charging valve construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the gas receptacle, and its support, with the gas charging construction included therein.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross section of the charging valve construction.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross section along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

The fluid charging valve construction of this invention is applicable to a variety of constructions, and a typical use is illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein a gas propelled liquid container may be a relatively small keg-shaped container adapted to contain a gas charged beverage, such as beer and the like. The receptacle may be stored in a domestic refrigerator and the like. The container may have a capacity for about 500 cu. inches of beverage. The beverage may be dispensed through a faucet 22 which may be opened and closed by the handle 24 for dispensing the beverage. The beverage flows through the tube 26 from an inlet 28 near the normal bottom of the container 20.

A propellant or charging gas receptacle 30 may be removably supported in the container 20 by a removable support 32 which extends through and is sealed to a wall 34 of the liquid container 20.

The gas receptacle 30 may be filled with the propellant fluid, which may be liquid CO to a liquid level 34 which is normally below the intake orifice 36 of an intake tube 38. The high pressure fluid flows through the orifice 36 into the tube 38 and to the automatic expansion valve construction 40. The expanded or low pressure charging 3,232,485 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 fluid may then enter the conduit 42, which may discharge theexpanded fluid through a check valve 44 into the space 46 which contains the beer or other beverage to be dispensed from the faucet 22.

The foregoing elements are not directly concerned with this invention, except that the receptacle 30 preferably is made small and strong enough, so that it can receive CO in liquid form, which is to be expanded by the automatic valve 49 from a pressure of about 500 to 600 p.s.i.g. in the receptacle 36, to a relatively low pressure of 12 p.s.i.g. in the passageway 42 and in the space 46.

It is desirable to provide a charging gas valve construction 52 for the receptacle 30, through which extremely high pressure liquid CO can be safely delivered to the receptacle 30 so that it may not be readily discharged toward the operator by the unskilled use of the charging needle. The liquid CO from receptacle 39 cannot be accidentally discharged toward the operator of any straight instrument having an end which is insertableinto the construction 52. For ordinary use, the charging needlelike tube 46 with a discharge opening at its end is inserted through a needle surrounding and sealing opening 48 in the needle receiving resilient plug 50.

Ordinarily the needle 46 is used by persons that are experienced in the use of such an instrument, and can take the necessary precautions to prevent a dangerous discharge of liquid CO from the charging valve construction 52 toward them.

The beverage container 29 and the gas receptacle 30 are serviced at a brewery and the like where the receptacle 30 and its support 32 are removed from an opening in the end wall 34 of the container 20. A split ring construction 54 may release the support 32 by proper manipulation, and the container 20 is cleaned and filled or refilled and the receptacle 30 is also cleaned and either the same one or a replacement is reinserted in the container 20 and clamped in place by the split ring 54. Generally a'thin protective plastic cover 56 is placed over the end of the support 32, which has a small opening 58 through which the charging needle 46 may be inserted into opening .48 by an experienced operator for charging the receptacle 30 with a desired amount of liquid CO After this CO charging operation, the receptacle 20 automatically becomes charged with CO in the space 46 at the desired pressure of 12 p.s.i.g., more or less, and will be maintained automatically at that pressure as the beverage is withdrawn from time to time through the faucet 22.

However, unexperienced persons or inquisitive persons, are likely to insert the needle 4-6 or some instrument such as a nail or the like through the openings 58 and 48, to satisfy their curiosity. If such operations should succeed in releasing a jet like discharge of liquid CO through the openings 48 and 58, the liquid CO so released may be sufiiciently harmful to injure the users eyes or other parts of the face and the like. The likelihood of such an accident is eliminated by this invention, wherein an unskillful use of the charging needle, or the inquisitive userof some other straight instrument cannot release the CO eccidentally.

The CO can flow from the charging check valve construction 52 through the passageways 60 and 62 into the receptacle 36, and vice versa. Hence, these passageways 60 and 62 are connected with the interior of the receptacle St] at one end and have another end with a passageway opening 64 accessible'for insertion of the straight pressure fluid charging needle 46 through the plug into the space 66. The needle 46 cannot be inserted beyond the space 66 because the stem protecting disc or slug 68 is constructed to prevent the needle 46 from penetrating further than the disc 68,,as will become apparent.

The passageway of the passageway means 66 and 62 is provided with a check valve 70. This check valve 70 13 may be of the tire inflating and deflating type with a coni cal resilient portion 72 sealed to a smooth conical surrounding wall 74 of the passageway 60. Such a valve is sometimes identified as a Schrader valve. The valve 70 also has a threaded portion 76 engaging a surrounding threaded wall 78 of the passageway 60. This type of valve is openable toward the receptacle 30. It is of the type which allows higher pressure fluid from the needle 46 to force the valve open toward the receptacle 30, and permits the high pressure fluid to flow downwardly through the valve 70 and into the passageways 60 and 62 .and into the receptacle 30. However, ordinarily, the pressure fluid in the receptacle 30 cannot flow backwardly through the valve 70 and out through the opening 64 unless the valve actuating stem 88 is pushed downwardly to open the. valve 70. The valve 70 remains closed by spring action, unless said stem 88 is pushed downwardly.

The needle 46 or any other straight instrument is prevented from actuating the stem 80 by the constructions now described.

The slug or disc 68 has a rim 82 which is held on a shoulder 84 in the surrounding wall of the passageway 60.

The solid disc or slug 68 is held on the shoulder 84 by the resilient plug 50 which has an outward compression bias against the surrounding wall 86. The plug 50 is-compressed tightly within the passage wall 86, so that it is held firmly therein, and its lower end engages the disc 68 and holds its rim 82 against the shoulder 84. p

The plug 50 preferably is made in the form of a relatively flat resilient disc 88 extending transversely across the opening formed by the surrounding wall 86.

The resilient disc 88 has a charging needle receiving and sealing opening 48, which substantially seals itself when the needle is withdrawn, but is shown slightly open, so that it can be illustrated. The opening 48 may terminate in a cup-shaped opening 90 to permit the needle to wedge itself through the opening 48 and into the space 66.

The resilient disc 88 has a tubular extension 92 which extends from the disc 88 axially along the surrounding wall 86 and its lower end engages and holds the disc 68 against the shoulder 84. The plug 50 is made of a size that it can be pushed in through the opening 64 and will remain compressed therein under all ordinary uses. It may be made of any suitable or desirable rubber-like compound well known to those skilled in the art.

The disc or slug 68 has one or two or more openings 94 which are displaced from alignment between the charging needle opening 48 and the actuating stem 80. The disc 68 also has a solid central barrier 96 which is aligned between the charging needle opening 48 and the actuating stem 80. The construction is such that when the charging needle 46, or a small mail or the like is inserted through the opening 48, such straight instrument is arrested by the solid barrier central portion 96 of the disc 68. Hence the straight instrument cannot engage the stem 80 and push it downwardlyand permit an accidental discharge of CO upwardly and out through the opening 64 in a dangerous manner. If such straight instrument should be small enough to enter the openings 94 near the rim of the disc 68, such instrument is guided sidewise, so that it cannot engage the stem 80. The slug or disc 68 may be made of metal of sufficiently strong character, so that it cannot be injured or bent by any ordinary use of va charging needle, or other straight instrument likely to be used.

In a typical operation, the container 30 and its support 32 are inserted in the beverage container 20 after the con-. tainer 20, in vertical position, has been filled with beverage. The charging needle 46 is then inserted through the openings 58, 90 and 48 until the end of the needle 46 ex tends into the space 66. A valve in a liquid CO supply conduit which is connected to the needle 46, not shown, is opened and the required amount of liquid CO is forced past the openings 94, check valve 70, passageway means 4. 60 and 62 into the receptacle 30. Substantially no CO can escape between the side wall of the needle 46 and the wall of the opening 48, since the compression bias in the resilient disc 88 is suflicient to maintain a tight seal around the needle 46.

After the required amount of liquid CO has been charged into the receptacle 30, the valve in the CO supply conduit is closed, and the needle 46 is withdrawn from the charging construction 52.

Neither the needle 46 nor any straight instrument, such as a small nail, can be manipulated by insertion and twisting action in the openings 58, 80 and 48 past the solid disc 68 and into physical engagement with the valve opening stem 80. Hence no accidental harmful release of CO can be accomplished by such insertion and twisting action that might be produced by any inexperienced person, who might otherwise break the seal at opening 48 by such twisting action, or by the use of a rough unsealable nail or the like.

It is thus to be seen that a new and useful charging valve construction has been provided by this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is 1. In combination: passageway means to be connected with the interior of a receptacle to be charged with a pressure fluid and having an end with an end passageway opening accessible for insertion of a straight pressure fluid charging needle; a check valve in said passageway means adjacent said passageway opening, said valve being openable toward said receptacle; a valve actuating stem on said valve extending toward said passageway opening; a charging needle receiving resilient plug in said passageway with a needle surrounding and substantially self-sealing opening; and a stem protecting slug between said selfealing opening in said plug and said stem having means permitting fluid flow from said needle to and through said check valve and into said receptacle and preventing actuation of said stem by a straight instrument inserted through said plug.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which said check valve is threaded into a threaded wall of said passageway means.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which said check valve is a tire inflation and deflation type of check valve with a conical resilent portion sealed to a smooth conical surrounding wall of said passageway means and with a threaded portion engaging a surrounding threaded wall of said passageway means.

4. A combination according to claim 1 in which said slug has a rim held on a shoulder in the surrounding wall of said passageway means and in which said surrounding wall of said passageway means has a uniform cross section surrounding wall extending from said shoulder to said end passageway opening.

5. A combination according to claim 4 in which said slug is held on said shoulder by said resilient plug, said plug having an outward compression bias against saiduniform cross section surrounding wall of said passageway means.

6. A combination according to claim 1 in which said plug has an outward compression bias against the surrounding wall of said passageway means and holds the outer end of said slug against outward movement.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said plug has the form of a relatively flat resilient disc extending transversely across said surrounding wall with a charging needle receiving and self sealing opening through said disc and having a tubular extension from said disc extending axially along said surrounding wall A which holds said outer end of said slug against outward movement.

8. A combination according to claim 7 having said slug with a rim against a shoulder in said surrounding wall, and with said tubular extension of said plug holding said rim of said slug against said shoulder.

9. A combination according to claim 8 with said slug having a fluid opening displaced from alignment between said charging needle opening and said actuating stern and having a solid barrier aligned between said charging needle opening and said actuating stem.

16. A combination according to claim 1 with said slug in the form of a solid disk having a rim held on a shouider of the surrounding wail of said passageway means by inward pressure of said resilient ping against the outer surface of said slug.

11. A combination according to claim 10 with said solid disc having a fiuid opening displaced from alignment between said needle surrounding and sealing opening and said stem and having a solid barrier between said needle surrounding and sealing opening and said stem.

12. A combination according to claim 11 with said resilient plug having an outward compression bias against the surrounding wall of said passageway means and having the form of a relatively flat resilient disc extending transversely across said surrounding wall with said charging needle opening passing through said resilient disc said surrounding wall extending outwardly substantially in uniform cross section beyond said shoulder.

13. In combination: a gas propelled liquid container; a propeliant gas receptacle removably supported in said liquid container by a removable support extending through and sealed to a wall of said liquid container; passageway means in said support connected to said gas receptacle and having a gas charging end accessible for the insertion of a gas charging needle into said passageway; a check valve in said passageway means openable toward said gas receptacle with a valve actuating stem directed toward said charging end; a needle receiving charging plug having a substantially self-sealing opening through which a charging needle is insertable with its side sealed by said plug and its discharge opening exposed in said passageway beyond said plug; and a protecting slug between said plug and said stem and held from outward displacement by said plug, said slug having means permitting fluid fiow from said needle to and through said check valve and preventing physical actuation of said stem by a straight instrument inserted through said plug.

14. A combination according to claim 13 with said opening of said resilient plug being a central needle receiving and self-sealing opening, with said stem being a centrally located stem aligned with said self-sealing opening and with said slug being a solid disc with gas flow opening means displaced from alignment between said sealing opening and said stem and with a solid barrier aiigned between said sealing opening and said stem.

15. A combination according to claim 14 with said solid disc having a rim engaging a shouder on said passageway means and said resilient plug having a resilient disc resiliently biased against a wall of said passageway means and having a resilient tube extending along said wall and holding said solid disc rim against said shoulder.

16. A combination according to claim 15 with said check valve being a tire inflation and deflation type of check valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,752 7/1899 Murray l41l9 X 2,865,410 12/1958 Neely 141-329 3,127,059 3/1964 Lawrence et al, 22252 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: PASSAGEWAY MEANS TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE INTERIOR OF A RECEPTACLE TO BE CHARGED WITH A PRESSURE FLUID AND HAVING AN END WITH AN END PASSAGEWAY OPENING ACCESSIBLE FOR INSERTION OF A STRAIGHT PRESSURE FLUID CHARGING NEEDLE; A CHECK VALVE IN SAID PASSAGEWAY MEANS ADJACENT SAID PASSAGEWAY OPENING, SAID VALVE BEING OPENABLE TOWARD SAID RECEPTACLE; A VALVE ACTUATING STEM ON SAID VALVE EXTENDING TOWARD SAID PASSAGEWAY OPENING; A CHARGING NEEDLE RECEIVING RESILIENT PLUG IN SAID PASSAGEWAY WITH A NEEDLE SURROUNDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY SELF-SEALING OPENING; AND A STEM PROTECTING SLUG BETWEEN SAID SELFSEALING OPENING IN SAID PLUG AND SAID STEM HAVING MEANS PERMITTING FLUID FLOW FROM SAID NEEDLE TO AND THROUGH SAID CHECK VALVE AND INTO SAID RECEPTACLE AND PREVENTING ACTUATION OF SAID STEM BY A STRAIGHT INSTRUMENT INSERTED THROUGH SAID PLUG. 